Island



(No Model.)

W. A. STAFFORD.

DOOR PLATE. v No. 389,260. Patented Sept. 11, 1888.

FIGJ- uzz.

wwmssss. INVEN TDH N. PETERS, Photo-Lum u mr. Washmgtnn, n. c

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE,

\VILLIAM A. STAFFORD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

DOOR-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,260, dated September 11, 1888.

Application filed March 29, 1858. Serial No. 268.767.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. STAFFORD, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented an improvement in hinged door-plates of the class utilized for concealing an aperture for mailmatter, whereby they are made to open antomatically, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, is a front view of my device as seen when closed, and Fig. 2 a view thereof as seen when opened.

A is the frame or setting for the plate B, which is secured to it by hinges,as represented, and operated or automatically opened by a sprin 0, when thek nob or catch D is pressed a little to one side. As represented, there is an opening in this frame for letters, This spring 0 is ofsuch construction, as represented, that it is not only durable, but will throw the plate wide open without slamming it. Yet I.

do not confine myself to this or any particular construction thereof, though this is an important feature, and is accomplished by constructing and combining the spring with the plate so that the V-shaped arm of the spring, which i (No model.)

way up, but only sufficiently far, as shown,

to give the requisite momentum to carry the plate as far as desired.

I am aware that springs have been used in connection with hinged door-plates, but not to automatically open them, which isimportaut, as the plate can be more nicely constructed to fit within the frame where a spring is used to throw it out, and this feature also adds to the novelty of the device.

Therefore, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A door plate having a slot therein for the insertion of letters, a flap hinged above said slot, a spring having a central loop or detent for throwing said flap upward, a pivoted swinging lever attached to the door-plate and having its free end bent and passing through a slot in the said plate, and a lug on the flap, with which the lever engages for securing or releasing the same.

WILLLA'M A. STAFFORD.

\Vi tn esses:

CHARLES E. GREENE, OLIVER S. CREssY. 

